How To Get Disability For Mental Illness

Relevant Literature: Application For Benefits

The few studies that have specifically examined the application process among persons with a mental disorder point to the importance of three sets of factors: need, social attachments, and linkage to the SSDI/SSI programs. Need reflects the extent of disability as well as low income and few resources. Social attachments are important in two contrasting ways. Studies report that those who are isolated and lack social supports are more likely to apply for benefits. However, family members may play a role in inducing a person with a mental disorder to apply. Involvement in mental health programs and efforts by programs assisting persons in the application process also are important links to benefits. Next we briefly review the literature on each of these points.

In another study of applicants, examined case reports for a sample of 248 persons seeking SSDI/SSI benefits because of a psychiatric impairment. Most of the sample had psychotic or affective disorders, and more than half also had a medical condition. Slightly more than a third were receiving some type of psychiatric care. Social isolation was common, and the applicants tended to be male and relatively young and to have had little education.

Do I Have To File A Claim For Each Of My Mental Disorders Separately

When you submit a claim for a particular mental health condition, VA will process your claim as a claim for any mental health condition. Specifically, VA looks at the description of your claim, the symptoms that you describe, the information and evidence that you submit, and any other information and evidence obtained. Therefore, VA does not limit its consideration to the particular mental disorder that was identified in your claim. For example, if a veterans initial claim for PTSD, but the record reflects that he or she is also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, VA is required to consider the anxiety disorder in connection with the initial claim for PTSD. As such, the assigned rating will reflect the severity and impact of both.

Mental Disorders And Physical Conditions

We used two self-reported criteria to determine the presence of mental disorders. The first criterion was an affirmative response to one of several questions about the presence of specific mental disorders or OTHER mental or emotional disorders in the past 12 months. The questions were presented as checklists in the 1994 and 1995 NHIS-D interviews.

The second criterion was based on the reporting of a medical condition, coded by ICD-9 categories , that fell within the range of codes used for mental illness . Data on conditions were available from both the 1994 and 1995 NHIS-D and Core data sets.

We considered an affirmative answer to one or more of the mental disorder checklist items or the mention of a condition within the specified range of ICD-9 codes as indicating the presence of a mental disorder. Mental retardation, mental disorders with an organic origin, and childhood-specific mental disorders were excluded from this definition. We incorporated substance abuse conditions, along with checklist items regarding alcohol and drug abuse disorders, into a separate substance abuse variable.

We identified those persons with reported conditions that fell outside ICD-9 codes 290.0 through 319.99 as having a physical condition.

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What Are The Benefits Of Being A 100 Percent Disabled Veteran

1 VA Disability Compensation Pay 2 Special Monthly Compensation Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans 3 Veterans Benefits Banking Program 4 FREE Healthcare and Prescription Medications for Disabled Veterans 5 Disabled Veteran Benefits Travel Pay Reimbursement 6 State Property Tax Exemptions for 100 Percent Disabled Veterans

Relevant Literature: Receipt Of Benefits

Using data from the Epidemiological Catchment Area Study , examined predictors of SSDI/SSI receipt. They found that persons who were already receiving benefits at baseline and those who began receiving benefits in the following year had less education and household income than did nonrecipients and were more likely to be male, unmarried, and middle aged . Several clinical measures were associated with greater odds of both receiving benefits at baseline and starting to receive benefits during the study: panic disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the presence of two or more disorders. In contrast, did not find differences between clinical variables in homeless mentally ill veterans who were and were not awarded SSDI/SSI benefits.

looked at differences among three groups of sheltered care residents with a serious mental illness: SSI recipients, nonrecipients believed to be eligible for benefits based on their income, and nonrecipients believed to be ineligible. Results indicated that the income-eligible nonrecipients were younger and had had more education than had the other two groups. The SSI recipients were less likely to be married than were those in the two nonrecipient groups, and they also had fewer hours of recent contact with family and friends.

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Our Social Security Attorneys Help Disabled People Throughout Indiana

Its never easy to get a Social Security disability application approvedespecially the first timebut claims of mental illness are particularly difficult to prove. You will need a clear diagnosis from a medical professional, an assessment of your ability to perform work tasks, evidence of your commitment to treatment, and more. Our Social Security disability attorneys understand what you are going through. We have experience helping those experiencing mental illness successfully apply for Social Security disability. Contact our office for the help you need today.

Mental Disorders Recognized By The Social Security Administration

There are many different kinds of mental disorders recognized as disabling conditions by the SSA. These include:

• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Schizophrenia

Even though you may have one of these disorders, you dont necessarily qualify for disability benefits. There are two requirements to qualify for Social Security not only must you be disabled according to the SSAs standards, but you must also prove that your disorder limits your ability to work.

It can be more difficult to prove that a mental disorder is affecting your ability to work. These types of disorders and illnesses dont show up on medical tests like X-Rays or CAT scans. There can also be some stigma in recognizing mental illness, or concerns of faking it.

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Healthy Ways To Cope With Stress

• Know what to do if you are sick and are concerned about COVID-19. Contact a health provider before you start any self-treatment for COVID-19.
• Know where and how to get mental health treatment and other support services and resources, including counseling or therapy .
• Take care of your emotional health. Taking care of your emotional health will help you think clearly and react to urgent needs to protect yourself and your family.
• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body.
• Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditateexternal icon

How Do I Establish Service Connection

The most important part of our job as your VA disability attorneys is establishing service connection for your disability. The VA requires proof that a specific incident or occurrence during your military service caused or contributed to your mental illness, or worsened an existing condition. To establish service connection, we need to do the following:

• Show that a doctor or medical professional diagnosed you with a qualifying mental illness
• Identify a specific illness, injury, or event that occurred during active duty and precipitated your mental illness
• Provide medical evidence creating a nexus, or link, between the incident and your mental illness diagnosis.

It is important to be aware that the VA has a list of mental illnesses for which it will not grant service connection. This list includes intellectual disabilities and personality disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder, etc.

That said, if you have an existing personality disorder but develop post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of an incident during your service, your existing disorder does not necessarily prevent you from receiving benefits for your PTSD.

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Understanding The Role Your Medical Evidence Plays In Getting Disability Benefits

Your medical records and other evidence play a central role in getting approval with any type of qualifying impairment. The disability examiner who oversees your case will need to look at your doctors notes, test results, treatment plan, treatment results, and other information about your condition. This allows them to judge the severity of your condition and see that it prevents you from working and keeping a job.

Since your medical evidence is the only way the Social Security Administration can determine if you meet the qualifications for disability benefits, it is important to ensure they have access to your records at every doctor, clinic, and hospital that treated you.

When you apply for disability, you will have to give the SSA a list of contact information, so they can request your records. This includes:

• Doctor or hospital name
• E-mail
• Patient ID, when possible

If you have Berger and Green working your case, we can help you gather this information and ensure it is correct on your application. Without this contact information, the disability examiner will not have access to your diagnosis, any test results, treatment plan and outcome, and information about your medication.

For a free legal consultation, call

What Mental Conditions Qualify You For Disability Benefits

Disability benefits do not only apply to physical conditions. They apply to mental disorders as well. Understanding what conditions are covered and how to pursue benefits can make all the difference if youre suffering from a mental disorder thats preventing you from working.

AtHandler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC, weve helped clients across Pennsylvania since 1922.Our attorneys understand the inner workings of Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income and the methods used to determine if an applicant has aqualifying disability. If you have questions about your condition or have already filed an application only to have it denied, we can help. We handle initial filings, reconsiderations, reviews, andappeals all the way to federal court.

Call for experienced counsel regarding your mental disorder and right toSSDI or SSI benefits.

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Whether You Are Working

Social Security will look at whether you are working, and if so, how much. Social Security can grant you disability benefits if you are unable to work at or over the “substantial gainful activity” level for at least one year. But if you are earning more than that, Social Security will deny your claim without even looking at your medical records.

How Much Does Mental Health Disability Pay

In general, long term disability insurance will pay benefits equaling 60 percent to 80 percent of your work-related income. If you earn $4,000 in after-tax income, an LTD policy would pay $2,400 to $3,200 a month if you suffer a qualifying disability.

How an insurance company covers mental health disability depends on whether it was a pre-existing condition when you applied or whether it developed after you purchased coverage.

Insurers have different underwriting guidelines. Compared with physical disabilities, benefits are often limited in cases of mental health disabilities because:

• They are more difficult to diagnose than physical disabilities.
• Itâs more challenging to prove their effect on job performance and ability.
• They are more likely to be treatable than some physical disabilities that are permanent.

Some insurers will cover certain mental conditions but not others. Others may stipulate that if you have attempted suicide in the past, you cannot collect benefits for at least 10 years after the policy has been issued.

Another common way that some insurers limit benefits for mental and nervous disabilities is to impose a cap on how long you can collect benefits. For example, some carriers place a 24-month limit on disabilities, regardless of the length of your policy benefit period.

On the other hand, a few disability insurance companies do not have limitations on mental/nervous disorder claims.

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Both Social Security Disability Income And Supplemental Security Income Provide Financial Assistance To Individuals With Mental Illness

SSDI provides monthly income to people who have a limited ability to work because of a physical or mental disability. In order to be eligible for disability benefits, a person must first meet the Social Security Administrations definition of disability: the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. Additionally, an individual must have worked a certain number of years and paid Social Security taxes.

Medical Records For A Mental Disability

All disability claims are decided almost solely on the content of the applicant’s medical records. Make sure you include all medical records from providers that gave you care based on the condition. For example:

• records from psychiatrists, psychologist, therapists, counselors, or social workers
• records from hospitalizations or emergency room visits that were the result of your condition, and
• pharmacy records .

Do not include irrelevant records from providers who didn’t treat you for your mental condition

If you don’t have sufficient medical records for Social Security to make a decision, the agency may send you for a psychological evaluation.

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Five Things To Know About Getting Disability For Mental Illness

A severe mental illness can be incapacitating, making it impossible to work. Bouts of illness, concentration problems, difficulty communicating, medical appointments, and unplanned absences can make getting and keeping a job extremely difficult.

With no work and no steady source of income, thousands of people with mental health conditions apply each year for Social Security Disability benefits in hopes of receiving a monthly check.

If only it were that easy.

The reality is that getting Disability for mental illness can be challenging and requires more effort than filling out a few forms. Because mental illness is a hidden or invisible condition and is often subjective in nature, it can be among the most difficult Disability claims to prove. Still, it is not impossible and it is worth the effort.

A good starting point is to take some time to understand how the Social Security Administration handles these types of cases. Heres a crash-course on mental disorder Disability claims, complete with five things you should know:

• Schizophrenia

If your condition does not meet the criteria of a Blue Book listing, but you can prove that your mental illness prevents you from working any job, you could still qualify for benefits. The Social Security Administration will determine whether or not you are able to work any job by evaluating your work history, age, and physical and mental capabilities.

Who Makes The Decision About Your Disability

Specially trained staff who work in the Disability Adjudication Unit of the Ministry of Community and Social Services will:

• look at the information you provide about your disability, and

This is called the Disability Determination Process. It is only done after we decide you qualify financially for Income Support.

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Applying For Disability Benefits With A Mental Illness

Mental and psychological disabilities are among the conditions that can qualify for benefits from the Social Security Administration . You may qualify with severe depression, bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, or another mental illness that prevents you from maintaining gainful employment.

Social Security disability benefits can cover everyday living expenses, medical bills, and other financial obligations. Benefits are paid monthly and can alleviate many of your financial worries, making it possible for you to get by without income from employment.

Impairments That Qualify For Bipolar Disorder Disability Benefits

The Social Security Administration has established that a claimant with Bipolar Disorder must have a history of consistent symptomatic manic episodes, depressive syndromes, or a combination of both. Additionally, the claimants bipolar disorder should result in two of the following restrictions:

• severe limitation of daily activity,
• inability to interact with others in a normal way, or
• recurring episodes of decompensation, which last for an extended period of time.

If a claimant does not meet the aforementioned criteria, he/she may still qualify under a section in the Blue Book, which states that any individual with a medical history documenting at least two years of any chronic affective disorder, including Bipolar Disorder, can be granted disability benefits, despite the support of medication, if the impairment or ailment has resulted in:

• limitations of the capacity to perform basic work action, even when symptoms are controlled with psychosocial support and medication.
• the claimants condition must lead to persistent decompensation periods, or
• the residual illness process has caused a subsidiary adjustment that even a nominal boost in mental demands would cause the claimant to decompensate.

Because applying for disability benefits with a Bipolar Disorder diagnosis can be a complex and intimidating process, hiring a qualified Social Security Disability lawyer or disability advocate may be in a potential claimants best interest.

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Filing For Social Security Disability With A Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

If an individuals Bipolar Disorder is constant and impairs all ability to function in a work environment, that person may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. Any individual with Bipolar Disorder can be eligible for disability benefits if he/she meets the evaluation criteria listed in the Social Security Administrations Blue Book, and if he/she has received a medical vocational disability endorsement based on the person’s residual functional ability, education and age.

What Is A Disability

You have to show that your mental health problem is a disability to get the protection of the Equality Act.

‘Disability’ has a special legal meaning under the Equality Act, which is broader than the usual way you might understand the word. Even if you dont think you have a disability, the Equality Act may protect you from discrimination if your mental health problem fits its definition of disability.

The Equality Act says you have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial, adverse, and long-term effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

The focus is on the effect of your mental health problem, rather than the diagnosis. So you need to show that your mental health problem:

• has more than a small effect on your everyday life
• makes things more difficult for you, and
• has lasted at least 12 months, is likely to last 12 months, or that it is likely to recur.

Examples of ‘substantial adverse effect’

Simon has obsessive-compulsive disorder . He has to check and recheck whether lights are switched off and doors are locked. This can make him late for work or other appointments. His obsessive thoughts often distract him from activities that he is doing and disrupt his daily routines. His mental health problem therefore has a substantial adverse effect on the way he does things.

Examples of ‘long term’

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